Nashville's Trash & Recycling: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles trash & recycling a little differently. In Nashville, Tennessee, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Pickup Rules & Schedules

Metro Nashville Public Works provides weekly curbside trash and recycling collection for residential properties. Trash is collected weekly and recycling is collected every other week. Residents must use the Metro-provided rolling carts and place them curbside with lids closed by 5 AM on collection day.

Key details: Trash Collection: Weekly curbside service. Recycling Collection: Every other week. Cart Size: 96-gallon rolling carts (trash and recycling). Set-Out Time: By 5 AM on collection day. Provider: Metro Public Works.

Improper placement or overflowing carts may not be serviced. Persistent issues can result in property standards notices. Contaminated recycling carts (containing non-recyclables) may be tagged and left uncollected.

Bulk Item Disposal

Nashville offers bulk trash pickup for large items through Metro Public Works. Residents can schedule up to two free bulk pickups per year for items that don't fit in the regular cart, such as furniture, appliances, and mattresses. Additional pickups cost a fee. Certain items like tires and hazardous waste are excluded.

Key details: Free Pickups: 2 per year per household. Volume Limit: Up to 2 cubic yards per pickup. Scheduling: Call Metro Public Works or use hubNashville. Excluded Items: Tires, construction debris, hazardous waste. Electronics: Must go to designated drop-off sites.

Dumping bulk items at the curb without scheduling a pickup may result in property standards citations. Illegal dumping carries fines and potential criminal penalties.

Recycling Requirements

Nashville provides curbside recycling collection every other week through Metro Public Works. Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, plastics #1-7, glass bottles, and metal cans. All recyclables go in a single 96-gallon cart — no sorting required. Contaminated items or plastic bags are not accepted in curbside recycling.

Key details: Collection: Every other week curbside. Type: Single-stream (no sorting). Cart Size: 96-gallon. Accepted: Paper, cardboard, plastics #1-7, glass, metal. Not Accepted: Plastic bags, Styrofoam, food-soiled paper.

Contaminated recycling carts may be tagged with a notice and left uncollected. Repeated contamination may result in suspension of recycling service. There are no fines for failing to recycle, as participation is voluntary.

Bin Placement Rules

Nashville residents must place trash and recycling carts at the curb with handles facing the house and lids closed. Carts should be set out no earlier than 4 PM the day before collection and retrieved by 7 PM on collection day. Carts must be stored out of public view between collection days.

Key details: Placement: Within 3 ft of curb, handles toward house. Spacing: 3 ft from mailboxes, vehicles, other carts. Set-Out Window: After 4 PM day before to 7 PM collection day. Storage: Behind front building line. Lid: Must be fully closed.

Carts left at the curb beyond the allowed window or stored in front yards may receive property standards warnings. Improperly placed carts may be skipped by collection crews.

The Bottom Line

Nashville's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Nashville is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Nashville can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.